William R. Alger

William Rounseville Alger (1822-1905) was a Unitarian minister and author whose writings were important to the development of comparative religious studies. His works included The Poetry of the East (1856) and A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life (1860).

The best aphorisms are pointed expressions of the results of observation, experience, and reflection. They are portable wisdom, the quintessential extracts of thought and feeling. They furnish the largest amount of intellectual stimulus and nutriment in the smallest compass. About every weak point in human nature, or vicious spot in human life, there is deposited a crystallization of warning and protective proverbs.

p. 178.

To appreciate and use correctly a valuable maxim requires a genius, a vital appropriating exercise of mind, closely allied to that which first created it.

Beware the deadly fumes of that insane elation
Which rises from the cup of mad impiety,
And go, get drunk with that divine intoxication
Which is more sober far than all sobriety.

"The Sober Drunkenness", p. 167.

The moon is a silver pin-head vast,
That holds the heaven's tent-hangings fast.

"The Use of the Moon", p. 178.

Ten poor mensleep in peace on one straw heap, as Saadi sings,
But the immensest empire is too narrow for two kings.

"Elbow Room", p. 188.

As two floating planks meet and part on the sea,
O friend! so I met and then drifted from thee.

"The Brief Chance Encounter", p. 196.

In the nine heavens are eight Paradises;
Where is the ninth one? In the human breast.
Only the blessed dwell in th' Paradises,
But blessedness dwells in the human breast.

"The Ninth Paradise", p. 223.

A gray eye is a sly eye,
And roguish is a brown one;
Turn full upon me thy eye,—
Ah, how its wavelets drown one!
A blue eye is a true eye;
Mysterious is a dark one,
Which flashes like a spark-sun!
A black eye is the best one.